Mount Pleasant Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.6

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.004 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

189.2 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Mount Pleasant, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Mount Pleasant	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Mount Pleasant compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Mount Pleasant, South Carolina	≈ 0–59 mg/L	99.3 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Charleston, South Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	66.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	river
North Charleston, South Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	7.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Hanahan, South Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.5 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Goose Creek, South Carolina	25 mg/L	24.6 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Mount Pleasant compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Mount Pleasant	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Mount Pleasant's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 189.2 mg/LpH: 7.6

Mount Pleasant Waterworks serves the Mount Pleasant area in Charleston County, South Carolina, operating two primary water sources: groundwater from the Middendorf Aquifer and purchased treated water from Charleston Water System. The utility treats raw water using reverse osmosis technology to ensure compliance with federal and state drinking water standards, serving residential and commercial customers across the Mount Pleasant service area.

The Middendorf Aquifer is a substantial groundwater formation situated 1,800–2,000 feet below the surface across the Tri-County region. This deep, pristine aquifer — combined with the utility's blended supply strategy and advanced reverse osmosis treatment — yields soft water with low mineral content. The geological setting results in water chemistry characterized by minimal hardness-causing minerals, typical of this deep formation.

With soft water, Mount Pleasant residents experience minimal scale buildup in appliances, pipes, and fixtures, and appliances typically enjoy extended lifespans compared to hard-water areas. Water softeners are not necessary for this supply. Residents benefit from better soap lathering, reduced soap scum, and lower maintenance demands on water-using equipment. Historical testing has detected bromodichloromethane above health guidelines, and the utility maintains compliance with EPA and state regulations for lead and copper, though residents in older homes with copper plumbing should monitor for potential leaching.

Geology & Source: Middendorf Aquifer — deep formation 1,800–2,000 ft beneath the Tri-County area; blended with purchased surface water from Charleston Water System; deep pristine geology yields soft water with minimal dissolved minerals

Other South Carolina Water Reports

Charleston

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

North Charleston

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Hanahan

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Goose Creek

25 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mount Pleasant's water safe to drink?

Yes. Mount Pleasant's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Mount Pleasant?

Mount Pleasant's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Mount Pleasant compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Mount Pleasant (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Mount Pleasant is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.